The stages have been set and now the World Rally Championship (WRC) competitors have been confirmed for Repco Rally New Zealand later this month.
A highlight of the entry list is 21-year-old Finnish driver Kalle Rovanperä who is currently leading the FIA WRC standings and could secure the title with co-driver Jonne Halttunen come the NZ round.
While he already has seven WRC rally wins to his name, he could also become the youngest champion in the sport’s history.
Also making an appearance is Rovanperä’s teammate at Toyota Gazoo Racing and eight-time world champion Sebastian Ogier.
Ogier has claimed 54 WRC victories in his career but hasn’t won in New Zealand before so he will be giving it his all to change that.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team will also see five time WRC rally winner Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta compete in NZ.
In the Hyundai camp, 2019 champion Ott Tänak and Belgian driver Thierry Neuville will be making an appearance as well as Oliver Solberg who is the son of 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.
Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith will be competing for M-Sport Ford as well as Adrien Fourmaux and Lorenzo Bertelli.
There’s no doubt many fans will be cheering on the Kiwis who are competing in the WRC2 category including five-time New Zealand Rally Champion Hayden Paddon who just won Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
The New Zealand driver has been competing in WRC2 in Europe which will have prepared him well his home round.
Supercars championship leader Shane van Gisbergen will also be taking part in the event after being inspired by his childhood memories of Rally New Zealand.
“My favourite memories were as a young kid. Before the Manukau Super Stage was built, they had it up the road at Totara Park which was not far from where I grew up,” said SVG.
“It was in the early 90s and it was at night. I remember being on dad’s shoulders watching the cars go through there.”
SVG will be behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia R5 as well as fellow Kiwi Ben Hunt, three time European Champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Australian Rally Champion Harry Bates.
A stage close to Kiwi competitor Jack Hawkeswood’s heart will be the purpose-built Wolf Power Stage at Jack’s Ridge which his father built on their property. The 7km stage will be the final stage of the rally.
Overall there are 11 entrants in the WRC1 elite category, 12 in WRC2 including Paddon and SVG, and six other kiwis also in the international field.
A full entry list courtesy of Rally New Zealand can be found here.
Repco Rally New Zealand will get underway on September 29 and run through until October 2 with tickets available now.
